Hi! I’m Shannon Leyko. If life feels exhausting, you’re in the right place. Let’s declutter the excess from your home & schedule together!
Living With Less So Life Can Feel More Manageable
After earning a degree in psychology, I then pursued professional musical theater in New York City, ended up as Miss New York in 2012, years later became the Assistant Director of Development at a production studio (producing brand new unscripted — i.e. “reality”—TV shows), and in 2019, I wrote my first book while pregnant and raising a toddler because why not? And all of it led me here.
I have 3 young kids, and ultimately realized that living with less was the best solution for how to improve my life. I wanted to do more with my time than constantly clean up the house.
Don’t get it twisted. I was not born a decluttering expert.
Turns out, a lot of you feel the same way. When we declutter our homes, we become highly aware of all the other distractions that bury our energy, dreams, and purpose. It’s so darn easy to overcomplicate our lives. To drown ourselves in obligations, pursuits, and entertainment that don’t provide any real value…just like the scarf at the bottom of a pile in our closet.
These days, I get to enthusiastically wake up each morning and encourage thousands of people to find freedom from excess through my top 1% podcast (wow) Paring Down, my weekly newsletter for 18,000+ subscribers (under 2 years old!), and all of the other resources you’ll find on this website and my social media.
We’re all in this together, and I’m honored you’re here.
I love combining my passion for psychology, writing, and media with the message of decluttering & intentional living.
I started the paring down podcast in 2023 because I believe that releasing excess goes beyond physical possessions.
Getaway Car by Taylor Swift
Favorite song?
Besides my two ridiculously adorable pupperonis (Chai and Noma), my favorite animal is horses. I grew up riding!
Favorite animal?
I really love alone time and need a ton of it to function. But I present with a lot of energy so I think that surprises people.
What is something that surprises people about you?
I can say all of the states in alphabetical order in one breath.
Favorite party trick?
I have an iced soy chai latte every day of my life so…tea.
Coffee or tea?
That’s a tough choice between Ketchikan, Alaska and where I currently live — Kodiak, Alaska! My husband is in the Coast Guard so we move often, but Alaska is my happy place. I’m so thrilled to have lived here twice.
Where’s your happy place?
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